Hi everybody. I need a little help before I make an expensive purchase. I have a 2000 F150 2wd with the tow package. I am looking at buying an 8ft x 18ft enclosed trailer. The curb weight of the trailer is 2800lbs. I currently own a 6-1/2ft x 12ft heavy duty open trailer with a 4ft drop gate. My truck pulls this trailer fine when loaded down with the 4-wheelers. Do you think my truck will be strong enough to pull the enclosed trailer loaded with the 4-wheelers? Or am I about to make mistake and overload the engine of my truck?

 

you will be fine as far as the truck goes. what motor and tranny do you have?

 

x2 doesn't sound like all that much weight. Whatcha got in the pickup ?

 

You'll find that the aerodynamic resistance is going to affect you a LOT more than the weight. With any kind of headwind, my 2002 5.4 4x4 (sounds like) it works pretty hard to maintain any kind of speed and downshifts much too early to really use the torque the engine has available when pulling my 6,000 lb 22ft travel trailer. Hills are no problem at all. I've been thinking about trying a Gryphon tuner to see if it will remedy the annoying downshifts. You shouldn't need 3,500 RPM to pull a trailer like that on flat ground at 70 MPH. (Yes, I tow with OD off.)

 

i have the 4.6 with auto in the truck

 

You could probably avoid some of those annoying downshifts by slowing down. You'd also save lots in gas, and your truck would thank you. Just a thought. I'd keep it around 55-60 mph.

If it keeps downshifting, put it into manual 2nd. If you tow with OD off, your staing in 3rd anyways. If your truck is needed to shift to second back and forth, click it into second and leave it there. Again, slow it down a little bit and get through the pull. Transmission would last a little longer doing this. Also nice to have a trans temp guage to keep an eye on things.

Just some advice. Do what works for you.

 

Thanks, that's generally what I do but when pulling on an interstate where the speed limit is 80mph, it's a bit scary to have people approaching your rear with a 25-30 mph speed difference. So I pull as the truck will allow in order to mesh with traffic as much as possible.

 

cool. thats what i needed to know. thanks for your help guys.

 

Might want to consider a rear end gear change. Knocking them down a bit would help your truck stay in its power range.

 

Aw, see, speed limit of 80 is unheard of here ! Doesn't stop many people, but still.

In that case, sound like your traveling at the safe speed, and not being crazy ! Since thats the case, i would then suggest maybe a power tuner for the truck ? But even better would be a gear swap. You know what you have now ? Maybe a 4.10 or a 4.30 or something would help keep the trans from shifting too often, keeping the power just right to give a strong pull.

and jethat beat me to the punch...

 

Thought about that but I don't spend that much time towing vs. not towing and I'd have to change out the front one too (4x4).